The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has called for a conducive working environment for women to participate fully in shipping business.
President of the association, Captain Tajudeen Alao said this in Lagos on Tuesday at an interactive forum to discuss the issue of gender equality on board ships, to mark this year's world seafarers’ day.
He also lauded President Muhammad Buhari for making efforts to pay pension who were retired as a result of demise of the Nigerian National Shipping Lines (NNSL).
"The atmosphere must be conducive on board for women to be on board. We are not happy that our children are not taking over from us in this job, but before now the Nigerian National Shipping Line was there, all of a sudden it went off"
"Thank God for this government that is trying to pay them pension, how will you encourage your child to do that, when you are not happy with that", he lamented.
Explaining further, he said that the association is trying to put structures on ground first before making regulations for gender equality.
"We are not employers of labour, but, we want to put structures on ground first before we talk about regulations.
Whether they give you platform or not come and take it is your right"
Alao fingered pirate attacks as one of the major challenges hindering women from coming on board vessels.
"It takes a strong woman to be on board the ship, because we have a lot of challenges; we have pirates attacking the ship and all that. Some of them will have to run inside the engine room to save their lives", he said.
He also said that in Nigeria people don't celebrate professionalism.
"Here in Nigeria, we don't celebrate professionalism, NIMASA should be full of processionals, those who are not, should also develop themselves professionally. My message is that there is room for everybody, they should come on board it is their right", he added.
Meanwhile the first female Captain, Mrs. Idiobiong Abalo, called on women in the maritime industry to be integrity-conscious.
"Women in the sector and who wants to succeed must be disciplined", she advised.
She also urged the government to help the seafarers, especially in the area of getting ships for training.
"I am also pleading with older seafarers to encourage the younger ones especially the female " she said.
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